WATFORD, England — Veteran Matt Cassel will debut at quarterback for the Vikings Sunday because of a fractured rib near starter Christian Ponder’s heart, an injury deemed too risky for displacing and causing more serious injury if he played against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Early in week it wasn’t looking good. Then things got better,” Ponder said after sitting out Friday’s practice. “Throwing felt fine. The biggest risk was a health issue, the placement of the rib near my heart. So we made the decision based on what’s best for me and my health and what’s best for my team. It stinks.”

Ponder vowed to be ready to play against the Carolina Panthers Oct. 13 at the Metrodome after the Vikings (0-3) return from their bye week.

Cassel said he was focused on the Steelers and not trying to win the starting job despite Ponder’s uncertain health and early season struggles.

“It’s win the ballgame,” he said. “For us it’s really a one-game season. We’ve got to play good football. I’ve got to take care of the ball. We’ve got to take care of the ball. “I’m excited about the opportunity. I’ve been though it a lot still get butterflies. I just found out before practice. At same time I’ve been preparing for this and I feel like I’m ready to go.”

Ponder will miss his first regular-season start since becoming the club’s No. 1 quarterback Week 6 of his rookie season in 2011. An injured elbow prevented Ponder from starting the Vikings’ wild-card playoff loss at Green Bay in January.

“I hope he plays well,” Ponder said. “This teams needs him to play well and I think he will play we.”

Ponder took the majority of snaps with the first-team offense during Thursday’s practice and said he was able to manage the pain better than the previous day, when his injury was first diagnosed. But the Vikings decided a healthy Cassel was a better option than risking further injury to Ponder, who has thrown five interceptions while struggling with command and accuracy.

The Vikings are trying to halt a three-game losing streak and salvage their season with a victory over the similarly winless Steelers at Wembley Stadium.

Cassel took the majority of first-team snaps Wednesday. He appeared in all four preseason games and started Minnesota’s finale against Tennessee. Cassel completed 22 of 40 passes (55 percent) with one touchdown, an interception and was sacked three times.

“We’ve been playing with Matt ever since offseason,” wide receiver Greg Jennings said Thursday. “He’s been in there with the (first team). We’ve gotten a lot of reps with him so he’s comfortable.’

Comparing the quarterbacks Jennings described Cassel as “more verbal, kind of commanding in the huddle.”

“If anything that’s the difference,” he said. “That comes with him having much more experience. He’s been in position where he’s had to be a starter for years now. He knows what’s going on. He’s commanding. So is Christian. But as far as throwing the ball it is what it is. Matt’s a very smart guy.”

Cassel, whom the Vikings signed to a two-year contract with $3.7 million guaranteed this offseason, started 62 of 79 games over a nine-year career in New England and Kansas City. He is a career 58.8-percent passer with 82 touchdowns against 57 interceptions.

He went 10-5 as a starter for the Patriots after Tom Brady tore his ACL Week 1 of 2008. The Chiefs acquired him before the 2009 season, rewarding him with a six-year, $62.7 million contract.

Cassel threw for 27 touchdowns in 2010, leading the Chiefs to a 10-6 record and reaching the Pro Bowl. But he struggled badly has last two years in Kansas City, which released him in June.

Brian Murphy has been on the Pioneer Press sports staff since 2000, migrating from the Detroit Free Press, where he covered police, courts and sports for four years. Murphy was the Minnesota Wild/NHL beat writer from 2002 to 2008 and has covered the Vikings as a reporter and columnist since 2009. Murphy is a Detroit native and Wayne State University graduate.

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